Starting on Memorial Day, the Minnesota Twins have an eight-game, seven-day road trip to visit the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays. They will also have top prospect Royce Lewis along with them for the journey.
The Minnesota Twins are bringing back top prospect Royce Lewis after a scorching few days in Triple-A
On Sunday, Lewis was in the Minnesota Twins clubhouse, making preparations to rejoin the team and had four gloves in tow with him, indicating that Lewis is prepared to move around quite a bit for the Twins upon his return to the squad.
Lewis, who will turn 23 during the upcoming road trip, played only shortstop for the Twins during his first action with the team from May 6-17. During those 11 games and 40 plate appearances, Lewis showed his skills at the MLB level, slashing .308/.325/.564 and hitting a pair of home runs while driving in five.
However, when Carlos Correa returned from the injured list, the Twins couldn’t find a regular place for him in the lineup and chose to send him back to Triple-A to keep his playing time at a high level. Rather than sulk about the demotion, Lewis continued to hits light out, going 9-for-26 over his last seven games with the Saints and posting a .346/.370/.692 slash line during that span.
Lewis also used the time at Triple-A to log time playing other positions than shortstop, seeing time at third base as well as in the outfield, patrolling center and left. While Correa will continue to be Minnesota’s primary shortstop, Lewis will likely be used in a utility role, giving the Twins, thanks to his versatility, a chance to put their best nine players on the field on any given night.
With the Twins entering Sunday holding a five-game lead in the American League Central division over the Chicago White Sox, Lewis will not only bring back “energy” (as Byron Buxton said in this article, subscription required) to the team, but also another bat to add to an already solid lineup.